Newest Reds Infielder Nathaniel Lowe Nearly Forgot One Important Step on First Day

Lowe shared a funny story on Saturday about nearly forgetting to sign his contract before taking the field with the Reds.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Infielder Nathaniel Lowe, who recently signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds, shared a humorous story about nearly forgetting to sign his contract before taking the field for the first time with his new team. Lowe, who played for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox last season, is excited to join the Reds and compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Why it matters

Lowe's story highlights the hectic nature of signing with a new team and the importance of completing all necessary paperwork before getting to work. As a veteran player, Lowe's experience and perspective could be valuable for the Reds as they look to build a competitive roster for the upcoming season.

The details

Lowe said that on his first day with the Reds, one of the team's front office members had to remind him to sign his contract before taking live at-bats. Lowe was eager to get to work and nearly forgot this crucial step. Despite the initial mix-up, Lowe expressed excitement about joining the Reds and playing alongside talented players like Jonathan India and Joey Votto.

  • Lowe signed with the Reds late last week.
  • Lowe shared the story on Saturday.

The players

Nathaniel Lowe

A 30-year-old infielder who recently signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. Lowe played for the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox last season, slashing .228/.307/.381 with 44 extra-base hits.

Jonathan India

A talented Reds player that Lowe is looking forward to playing alongside.

Joey Votto

A veteran Reds player that Lowe is looking forward to playing alongside.

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What they’re saying

“I was in Texas yesterday. One of the front office guys had to come grab me and say, 'hey, you've got to sign your contract before you take live at-bats.' I was trying to get out and get to work. It's been a whirlwind.”

— Nathaniel Lowe (WLWT)

“It's exciting. You hear so much about De La Cruz. Obviously, playing against Suarez in the West so much, I've been on the bad end of a lot of his homers. It's an exciting group. It feels like there is no easy path to playing time for everybody on the roster and off the roster.”

— Nathaniel Lowe (WLWT)

What’s next

Lowe will be competing for a spot on the Reds' Opening Day roster with players like Will Benson and JJ Bleday. The Reds' first Spring Training game will be on Saturday, February 21, against the Cleveland Guardians.

The takeaway

Lowe's story highlights the importance of attention to detail and completing all necessary paperwork when joining a new team, even for experienced players. His enthusiasm for joining the Reds and competing for a roster spot suggests he could be a valuable addition to the team's infield depth.